Barham's role will see him taking a strategic overview of Connection Capital’s private equity portfolio as a whole, as well as sitting on the boards of a number of portfolio companies, the firm said.

Previously, Barham worked at Hamilton Bradshaw, the mid-market private equity firm run by James Caan, where he was commercial director responsible for investments in private equity and direct commercial and residential property transactions.

He was also finance director at private equity-backed sports equipment and clothing retailer Snow & Rock. He has also held roles in private equity investment with Octopus Ventures and mid-market leverage finance at Kaupthing Investment Bank. He qualified as an accountant and worked for Ernst & Young.

Connection Capital has £180 million ($227.6 million) of funds under management. Its business model means that investors choose which opportunities they want to take a stake in, investing in £25,000 tranches. Opportunities are identified and negotiated by the firm, which also carries out due diligence and manages the investment from completion through to exit on its clients’ behalf.